Category Archives: Beatles influence

This band still remains one of my favorite current bands and I’m just waiting for them to come to the United States. You can hear the Beatles influence. For more music, news and tour dates please visit http://www.thevals.co.uk

My last review of Beatleseque Three, Alan had begun to recover from a what I thought was a very dissappointing Beatlesque Too album. I think I can safely say, this album is the best of the bunch.

The CD starts out with a catchy, little head-bobbing, Lennon-esque title track, Love Everyone. This is one of those songs you can imagine every mom wanting to play for their young children.

Another memorable tune is track 9 – My Rolls Royce…a song you can imagine Ringo singing. Everything from the limited vocal range to the silly lyrics just screams Ringo!

Track 11, I Fly is an amazing tune that really and truly highlights the talents of Alan Bernhoft. It’s just beautiful with it’s whisp of Beatles influence but not overdone.

Included in this album are three spoken word tracks from the writings of T.S. Dorglesnout. They’re amusing little ditties fit perfectly in amongst the songs. Who’s T.S. Dorglesnout? When you find out, please let me know too! 🙂

This album ends with the song, Captain Anaujiram. Though me and the good Captain would never share company, they song is amusing!

I don’t want to leave out that Mr. Bernhoft has included a holiday tune on this album called Imagine Christmas. I must say I’m a fan of it already since I’ve personally had enough of the same-old, same-old holiday tunes every year. I’d love to see the song distributed to radio stations across the country and be the next big holiday song!

I’m very impressed with this album and enjoyed getting an early copy of it. The official release date is Saturday, June 23, 2012. You can sample and buy a digital copy on Amazon.

I just found this new song by The Quarrymen (thank you Beatles Examiner) called No. 6. It’s the first song off their new album and features none other than May Pang!

For 99 cents, I figured it was worth it to download it from Amazon and give it a listen and all I can say is….WOW!

This song is a whole lot more than I ever expected. Just when I thought that this was a band that was still trying to ride the tails of their predecessors, I’ve been proven wrong. This song, though still with its nostalgic samples, is easily just as hip, chic, awesome, groovy, swag, word or whatever the kids are saying these days.

I’m anxiously awaiting the album!

Absolutely, don’t miss the opportunity to listen and own this new song. You can download it on Amazon.com. (Don’t let the preview on Amazon fool you…it doesn’t do the song justice!)

The Valsare from Belfast, Ireland and appeared in my inbox about 2 years ago when they told me what huge Beatles fans they were and how influenced their music has been by the Fab Four. At first, I thought they were just another band looking for attention, but I went to their site and gave their single “Yesterday Today” a listen. The song will give you chills! They soon released their first album “Sticks and Stones” in October 2009 which I had fully intended on reviewing but for some reason, I never found the time. The album is amazing for a debut album…there is no doubt it is on my list of favorite albums along with my Beatles collection. There is no mistaking that these guys too are Beatles freaks!

Now this band has released a new single, “Look to the One” and I’m not going to miss this opportunity to let the world know exactly how talented this group of musicians is. An upbeat song, with a sound reminiscent of John Lennon. I’ve embedded the video to this new song into this review, but I highly recommend taking a listen without the visual imagery if you want to truly get into this song. These are the types of songs you pop into your car stereo and all your friends ask, “Who’s this?!”

Did I say I love this band? I LOVE THE VALS! I just wish I could give them more support and bring them to the U.S.. The people at SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, actually turned The Vals down last year to appear at the festival. I think this was a huge mistake on their part and a big loss for the fans that attend the festival. Hey…SXSW! Get on the ball and bring The Vals to the U.S.A.!

Just as a refresher on who Such As Us is: I reviewed this band’s Priming The Pride EP this past June. They’re managed by Maureen Shames, who is also the publicist for Sid Bernstein – the man that brought the Beatles to America.

I really like this band and I would love to see them perform live! I’m hoping they start doing summer music festivals. This album inspires images of spreading out a blanket at a folk festival and just chilling to the music. Filled with songs with real meaning, it gives you something to think about…or you can just tap your toes and bob your head.

The four songs that were on their EP seem to have been fined tuned and join eleven other songs with beautiful harmonies (“Tall Town”) and some wonderful violin and flute solos.

Two new members have been added to the line-up, both of them percussionist and one providing back-up vocals. Michael and Joni seem to have provided more depth to Such As Us.

For more information on how to get this album and Such As Us’ upcoming shows, go to their Facebook page or find them on ReverbNation.

Such As Us will be having a CD Release Party this week and I truly wish I could be there to have the LIVE experience. If you’re in the NJ/NY area, here’s the info on the party:

Early last month, I got an interesting email in my inbox from Maureen Shames, Sid Bernstein’s former publicist (Sid Bernstein is the promoter that brought the Beatles to America). She emailed me a promotion package on a new band, Such As Us, that she’s representing along with Sid. This neo-folk-rock band made my spidey-senses tingle so I offered to review their new EP if she’d send me a copy.

“Priming the Pride” is a four song EP that took me back to the folk songs of the 60’s…seriously! This band conjured up images of Woodstock and folk festivals old and new. This is the music that makes you want to spread out a blanket on the lawn and mellow out. And to stay true to the form of the 60’s folk era, these songs come along with a messages.

The only thing I believe is lacking, is that these songs could probably use a little more producing…but would it really be a folk album if all the edges were smoothed over?

I gotta say…I honestly look forward to hearing this band’s upcoming CD release – to be release Summer 2011. Their music relaxes me…in the way that Peter, Paul and Mary’s Puff the Magic Dragon did when I was a child.

For anyone in the NYC area, you’ll have the opportunity to see this band live tonight (June 1, 2011) at Patsy’s Restaurant (see image to the left).